Hard House History

Paul Glazby
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.

  1. 3D AGO

    Lab4: The Birth of Stadium Techno

    This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby reconnects with Les from Lab4, one half of the duo that helped define the harder, louder and more theatrical end of UK hard dance. Les takes us right back to the early 90s, before Lab4 even existed. He and Adam were in an industrial metal band called MAD, writing, programming and effectively carrying the project themselves. When the band dissolved around 93 to 94, the studio side began to take over. Access to proper equipment in Oxford, long hours of experimenting, and a growing obsession with programming led to the birth of Lab4. From day one, the goal was clear. They wanted to create what Les calls "stadium techno." Inspired by the spectacle of bands like Kiss and the sheer scale of arena rock, Lab4 invested heavily in stage production, lasers, smoke machines and a full visual show. It was never just about tracks; it was about impact. We dive into the breakthrough Fridge gig that kicked everything off, the unique Lab4 sound that sat differently on the pitch control than other DJs of the time, and the relentless behind-the-scenes workload. Writing, performing, organising gigs, doing artwork, accounts and logistics, the hour on stage was the easy part. The rest led to burnout. Les opens up about Adam leaving in 2006, the reunion years later for the Tidy Magna event, and the eventual final chapter after Finland in 2019. There is honesty here about physical limits, creative fatigue and the realities of sustaining a hard dance career for decades. It is a raw, reflective and hugely important conversation about one of the scene's most recognisable acts. Join the History Were you front row for Lab4 at The Fridge or Magna?What was the first Lab4 track you heard live?Drop your memories in the comments and tag a mate who used to lose it to Soulfire.Subscribe to Hardhouse History and help us keep the legacy alive. #HardhouseHistory #Lab4 #LesLab4 #UKHardHouse #TidyTrax #HardDance #90sRave #StadiumTechno #RaveCulture #PaulGlazby

    46 min

  2. MAR 2

    Jon Langford: The Story of Knuckleheads

    In this episode of Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby sits down with one of the most quietly influential figures in the scene, Jon Langford, the man behind Knuckleheads, K-Series and a huge part of the UK hard house foundation. The conversation quickly turns nostalgic as Paul and Jon talk about how DJs in the 90s rarely actually knew each other. They were, as Jon puts it, “ships in the night", a handshake at the decks, a quick hug, then one DJ mixing while the other packed their headphones away HHH - Jon Langford. Long before social media, reputations were built entirely on records and dancefloors, not followers. Jon walks through his beginnings, starting DJing in 1990 while still holding a day job, often finishing a club at 2 am and turning up exhausted at work the next morning. It didn't take long to realise that banking wasn't the future; music was. From record shop culture in Bournemouth to scrabbling for promos on Friday mornings, to forming Knuckleheads with Warren Clark, the episode dives deep into the creation of the hard house sound. Inspired by the Sharp Boys, Armand Van Helden's basslines, and the energy of American house, Jon explains how “House Rocker” and the Knuckleheads' identity were intentionally designed to create a recognisable style. They also explore the rise and fall of vinyl culture, the shift to digital downloads, and why many producers walked away in the mid-2000s. Jon candidly discusses leaving the scene for stability, building a full career in IT and cybersecurity, and returning years later with a completely different perspective on music and DJing. It’s a story about passion, burnout, reinvention, and why hard house never really leaves you. Join the History Were you there for Trade, Tidy or the early Knuckleheads days?Tell us your memories, your first rave, or the track that changed everything. Leave a comment or message, and we might read it out in a future episode!Subscribe, share the episode with a mate from the dancefloor days, and keep the history alive. #HardhouseHistory #HardHouse #Knuckleheads #JonLangford #RaveCulture #UKHardHouse #90sRave #ClubCulture #DanceMusicPodcast #PaulGlazby

    58 min

  3. FEB 23

    Paul Maddox: "Inspirations"

    Hard House History goes properly behind the curtain this week as Paul Glazby welcomes back fan-favourite guest Paul Maddox for a very special episode, the first in a new series called Inspirations. Instead of just telling stories from the rave years, this episode digs into how the music actually gets made. Maddox breaks down the creative process track by track, explaining where ideas come from, why some work and others don't, and how a rejected concept can sometimes become gold. The pair start with Maddox's track "Miracle," born of hearing an indie-folk record on the radio and wondering, “What happens if you turn this into hard house?" After experimenting with a remix that never took off, the idea evolved into a full cover version, complete with new vocals and a deliberate nod to late-90s trance influences.  They then move on to "Build It Up", a B-side that ended up outliving the A-side in DJ sets. Maddox explains how early hard house producers, long builds, chunky grooves and even clever sampling shaped the record, and why sometimes the simplest dancefloor track connects more than the clever one. Finally, the episode's highlight is the brand-new Glasby & Maddox collaboration, "Keep Hope Alive." What started as a risky idea inspired by a classic guitar progression slowly evolved into a full emotional record, eventually transformed by a powerful spoken-word vocal that gave the track its identity and meaning.  This episode isn't just nostalgia. It's a genuine look at creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, rejection and those rare moments where everything clicks. If you've ever wondered how a hard house anthem is actually born, this is the episode you've been waiting for. JOIN THE HARD HOUSE HISTORY FAMILY If you enjoyed this episode: • Follow the podcast • Share it with a rave mate • And tell us — what track inspired you to love hard house? Because the music never really left… we just kept hope alive. #HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #PaulMaddox #HardHouse #UKHardHouse #TidyTrax #DanceMusicPodcast #RaveCulture #ElectronicMusic #HardDance

    50 min

  4. FEB 16

    Fergie: From Belfast Kid to Club Legend

    This week on Hard House History, Paul Glazby finally sits down with one of the most requested guests the podcast has ever had, Fergie. A DJ whose story is inseparable from the rise of UK hard house, the conversation goes far beyond club nostalgia and into the raw reality of growing up inside the scene. Fergie takes us back to early-90s Ireland, learning to mix on battered turntables as a kid and playing nightclub residencies at just 14. What follows is a journey that sounds almost impossible now, moving to England as a teenager under the mentorship of the legendary Tony De Vit. The episode explores the real relationship behind the myth, not just DJ and protégé, but family, trust and belief. You hear about long car rides to gigs, promo records spread across bedroom floors, and hours spent watching Tony craft sets and productions from scratch. The discussion also opens up the era many only heard rumours about: chaotic club nights, the explosion of Gatecrasher and Trade, and the intensity of a culture-changing dance music forever. Most movingly, Fergie shares deeply personal memories of Tony's illness, his passing, and the moment he was asked to play Tony's scheduled set the very night after the funeral. It’s emotional, honest and gives listeners a perspective on the scene that no documentary ever fully captured. The episode also explores the evolution of hard house itself. Was it really a genre, or something much broader? Fergie explains why tracks like The Dawn blurred boundaries and how that shaped his own decision years later to move away from the sound and search for his own musical identity. This isn't just dance music history. It’s a coming-of-age story inside one of clubbing's most important eras. Relive the History If this episode brings back memories, share it with a mate you used to go raving with. Tag them, message them, or send the link and say, "Remember this?" And don't forget to follow Hard House History so these stories never get lost. #HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #DJFergie #UKHardHouse #ClublandStories #TonyDeVit #RaveCulture #DanceMusicHistory #90sClubbing #ElectronicMusicPodcast

    1h 36m

  5. FEB 9

    Mark Kavanagh: Ireland’s Hard House Pioneer

    This week on Hard House History, Paul sits down with Irish hard house pioneer Mark Kavanagh, a name woven deep into the fabric of the late-90s scene. From pirate radio and underground raves in Dublin to chart positions, Trade club connections and releases that helped define the harder sound, this episode is less an interview and more a living archive of how hard house actually spread beyond the UK. Mark explains how the early Irish rave scene evolved from tiny gatherings into packed venues like the Olympic Ballroom, where hundreds quickly became thousands, and where he eventually went from playing records to producing them. He recalls documenting the scene in magazines and fanzines because, at the time, nobody else was capturing what was happening.  The conversation dives into the real history of the genre, the pre-digital era of DAT tapes, mailing lists and white labels, and the moment Irish dance floors embraced the harder, faster sound years before UK media took it seriously. Mark also shares how his productions took off after pirate radio repeatedly played his records, turning a studio shed project into a national booking schedule.  Paul and Mark also unpack Trade’s influence, the origin of the term “hard house”, and how radio, clubs and DJs together created a movement rather than a marketing genre. It’s a fascinating reminder that scenes weren’t built by algorithms, they were built by people travelling, sharing music and handing records directly to each other. If you want to understand how hard house actually grew internationally, this episode is essential listening. JOIN THE HISTORY Got memories from the late 90s rave era?Tell us the club, the DJ and the track that changed everything for you. Comment on Spotify or YouTube and help document the real history of hard house. #HardHouseHistory #MarkKavanagh #90sRave #TradeClub #IrishRaveScene #HardHouse #DanceMusicHistory #OldSchoolRave #ClubCulture #PaulGlazby

    1h 6m

  6. FEB 2

    Nik Denton: Toolbox, Trade and 30 Years of Hard House

    In this episode of Hard House History, Paul Glazby sits down with Nick Denton, a name that quietly but profoundly shaped the hard house movement from the mid-90s onward. From sneaking into clubs at 16 with a fake ID to becoming a resident DJ, producer, label boss, and digital pioneer, Nick's story is one of timing, talent, and relentless curiosity. He talks candidly about cutting his teeth at Southampton's Magnum, early influences like rave tapes, Trade at Turnmills, and being taken under the wing of Paul King, a partnership that led to seminal projects like Overload and Trauma, and eventually to the launch of Toolbox Recordings. Nick reflects on the white-label era, pressing vinyl by hand, selling records out of car boots, and the moment everything changed with the arrival of digital distribution. Long before it became standard practice, Toolbox became one of the earliest labels to embrace digital platforms, a move that helped future-proof the music while many others struggled to adapt. The conversation also dives into the realities of burnout, financial risk, and why Nick often worked behind the scenes rather than chasing the spotlight. There's plenty of laughter too, Manchester after-party stories, broken cars, lost nights and the kind of chaos only the hard house scene could produce. Now, with Toolbox celebrating its 25th anniversary and Nick marking 30 years in the scene, there's a renewed fire. New releases, events, collaborations and a genuine sense that hard house is bubbling again under the surface. This is a proper deep dive into the history, the hustle and the heart of hard house. 30 Years of Hard House, One Story Toolbox is back, and so is the fire Revisit the sound, the stories and the spirit of hard houseListen now and subscribe for more Hard House History wherever you get your podcasts #HardHouseHistory #NickDenton #ToolboxRecordings #HardHouse #TradeAtTurnmills #90sRave #UKDanceMusic #ElectronicMusicHistory #DJCulture #RaveLegacy

    1h 6m

  7. JAN 26

    Eamonn Fevah: From Accident to Institution

    In this episode of Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby is joined by Eamonn Fevah, one of the key behind-the-scenes figures responsible for shaping UK hard house culture through clubs, labels, and some of the wildest parties of the late 90s and early 2000s. Eamonn takes us back to 1996, arriving in London from New Zealand on what was meant to be a working holiday, and instead finding himself at the centre of a rapidly exploding clubbing scene. From Sunday daytime clubbing at The Aquarium to after-hours chaos in Soho, this is a story built on friendships, timing, and saying yes to opportunities before realising how big they would become. The conversation charts the rise of Fevah, from a small membership-based afterparty to sold-out events at The Tube, London Astoria, Ministry of Sound, Heaven, and beyond. Eamonn shares how Fevah unintentionally became a launchpad for some of the most important DJs and producers in hard house and hard trance, including close working relationships with Steve Blake, Dave Parkinson, and a long list of artists who defined the era. There are incredible stories from international tours, including infamous boat parties to Hamburg, Ibiza takeovers, and the reality of promoting events before social media or digital distribution existed. Vinyl, phone numbers on record labels, and weekly record shop trips were the lifeblood of the scene. Eamonn also reflects on stepping away from the UK after the London bombings, returning to New Zealand to raise a family, and later helping reignite the scene through modern Fevah events and new music projects. From accidental beginnings to lasting legacy, this episode captures a time when club culture was raw, risky, and driven entirely by passion. This is not just a DJ story; it's a promoter 's-eye view of how hard house became global. Were Fevah parties part of your clubbing story?Vinyl era or digital age, which do you miss most?Should promoter stories be told more often?Listen now and relive the chaos. #HardhouseHistory #EamonnFevah #FevahRecords #HardHouse #UKRaveCulture #DanceMusicHistory #ClubCulture #90sRave #PaulGlazby #HardDance

    45 min

  8. JAN 19

    Tall Paul: The Rise of Hard House and the birth of Trade

    In this landmark episode of Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby sits down with Tall Paul, one of the most important and often misunderstood figures in the story of UK hard house and late-night club culture. While Tall Paul may not always be labelled a "Hard House DJ" by today's definitions, his role in shaping the sound, space, and spirit that allowed hard house to exist is undeniable. As the resident DJ at Trade, held at Turnmills, the club owned by his father, Tall Paul was there at the very beginning, watching underground dance culture transform from a local bar crowd into a movement that redefined nightlife. Paul and Tall Paul rewind to the late 80s, from pirate radio and record digging to the groundbreaking 24-hour licence that gave birth to Trade. They unpack how that Sunday morning energy, the crowd, the fashion, the lasers, and the music all collided to create something genuinely new. Tall Paul shares rare behind-the-scenes insight into building sets for Trade, the pressure of following DJs like Trevor Rockcliffe and Tony De Vit, and how his own sound helped bridge rave, techno, and what would become hard house. The conversation also travels far beyond London. Tall Paul reflects on early international touring across Japan, the US, Ireland, and Scotland, the realities of long tours, border issues, and the mental and physical toll of life on the road. There’s honest discussion about burnout, stepping away from DJing, family priorities, and returning on his own terms as a new generation rediscovers the music. This episode also touches on vinyl versus digital, the evolution of DJ technology, the return of physical releases, and the idea that rave culture, for many, was a form of therapy during a tense and divided era. This is not just club history; it is cultural history. Was Trade the true birthplace of hard house?Vinyl or USB, what defines a real DJ set for you?Which Tall Paul era stands out the most? Listen now and step back inside the foundations. #HardhouseHistory #TallPaul #TradeClub #HardHouseOrigins #UKRaveCulture #DanceMusicHistory #PaulGlazby #ClubCulture #90sRave #ElectronicMusic

    1h 11m
See All (65)

Trailer

About

Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Glazby
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Paul Glazby

You Might Also Like